For Mr President’s language not to die

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has identified Ijaw language as one of the 43 per cent of the languages spoken in the world that are endangered, writes Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt.

The event was unique. It attracted top officials of the Bayelsa State government, film producers and the lovers of Ijaw motion picture in the state. The event was the premier of three best Ijaw films where the people of Bayelsa State demonstrated that they are not relenting on their effort to project the Ijaw identity and to promote Ijaw language and culture through films.

The ceremony, which was tagged “Promoting Ijaw Language and Culture through Films”, was the first of its kind in the Bayelsa film industry. No wonder it attracted government officials, stakeholders in the Bayelsa film industry, up and coming artists, producers and lovers of Ijaw motion picture who came brainstormed together on how to foster unity amongst Ijaw film makers, how to provide training and education for Ijaw films and how to make Bayelsa a film- making destination.

They also deliberated on how to research into the development of Ijaw films, how to provide marketing platform for them and generally how to exploit the viable Nigeria movie industry for cultural preservation and export, job creation, poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

Speaking at the occasion of the Dinner night and premier of three best Ijaw films, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson who was represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affair, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, said the governor is happy about the growth and success of an Ijaw in the movie industry.

He said it is because of the encouragement of the Ijaw-born producers and actors in the industry that motivated him to support the Ijaw Motion –Picture Project with the sum of N250 million.

“Governor Seriake Dickson has on several occasions emphasized the importance of culture to his people. Early this year, while speaking at an occasion during the world culture day at Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, the governor commended Bayelsans who have impressively contributed to preserve the culture of the Ijaws. The governor has expressed concern at the speedy rate the culture of the Ijaws was fading among other cultures in Nigeria.

“As a move to preserve the culture of our people the governor has announced that a centre for the study and preservation of Ijaw language will be established in the State. He therefore, told Bayelsans and the entire Ijaw people never to be discouraged but to strive assiduously to protect and project the rich culture of Ijaw. He has also promised to set up a film city in Yenagoa.

“I want to inform that culture is the identity of a people without going too far, since this administration came on board; the governor has used culture to promote the Ijaws to the outside world. The last two years has shown Dickson as a man who is proud of his culture. Through culture Bayelsans have raised their ego as a people. The state has received some feats and accolades at both the national and international level,” he said.

The President of IMPP, Dame Timi Zuofa, who is also the producer of one of the films premiered, said the dearth of Ijaw movie spurred her to produced a classic Ijaw film tilled: “Ogbolokuro” with the aim of reviving the dying culture and language of the Ijaw people.

She said the project is borne out of a passion to promote Ijaw Language and culture that is gradually being extinct through the Nigerian Movie Industry that is fast becoming a viable option for cultural preservation and export.

She noted that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) estimates that at least 43 per cent of the 6000 languages spoken in the world including Ijaw, are endangered.

Zuofa said according to UNESCO index, the Nigerian Movie Industry is the biggest export outside oil, “The movie industry is the largest employer of labour and the highest non-oil export foreign exchange earner that contributes up to 5% of Nigeria’s GDP. In recognition of the foregoing, the Federal Government, for the first time Nigeria’s history, recently announced a $200m Entertainment Industry Fund and a N3billion grant, this gesture has been proudly replicated in the state by the Seriake Dickson’s Administration.

She however regretted that despite their effort in the movie industry, the Ijaw film is yet to be recognised.

“It is however shocking to note that in spite of these commitments, the Ijaw, with its plethora of youthful vibrant and creative talents is yet to benefit from these opportunities. The evident is in a recent report by the Nigeria Export Import Bank (NEXIM) which revealed that in 2010 for instance, the percentage of films produced stood at:44 percent English, 31 percent Yorba, 24 percent Hausa and 1 percent Igbo. The Ijaw Motion –Picture is indeed, an ambitious project that would gulp an estimated N100bn

She said while the producers are acknowledging the genuine efforts of Governor Dickson to save the Ijaw Language from extinction as epitomized in the creation of the Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, that IMPP must also make certain sacrifice to achieve a better goal.

The President recount that the award of scholarships to 110 teachers to study Ijaw language at the State University (Niger Delta University), the institution of a N 250 million Movie Fund in the last AMAA event, and the recent announcement of a whooping N200 million music Fund, show that Governor Dickson effort to support the Ijaw Motion- Picture Project’s Struggle to preserve the Ijaw language and culture through films is achievable.

The Chief Executive officer of Annog Creation, a movie production company, Mrs. Ann Bekele who is also a producer and Ijaw move actresses said her major concern is how the government could recognise the effort of those who have invested their energy and resources in making what the movie industry in that was.

Mrs. Bekele who is the Vice Chairman of IMPP, said the sudden death of her partner, Favour Ogosi, has encouraged her to put more effort in the struggle to promote Ijaw identity in the industry but regretted that the effort of the late Ogosi made the industry popular in Bayelsa State was yet to be appreciated, especially the state government.

“My concern is about the late Ogosi, he can still be rewarded through his helpless family. This is a man who gave all for the growth of movie industry in Bayelsa State.”

The highpoint of the occasion is the premier of the three best Ijaw films which include Ogbolokuro, produced by Timi Zuofa; Sacrifice-the Oru by Martins Zidebegha and Bolou-Owei by Lakemfa. There were also cash donations by the guests to support the project.